cabell



Dec. 17, 1929. F. M. CABELL 1,739,749

APPARATUS FDR SUPPLYING STEAM TO INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES OriginalFiled y 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aw ATTORNEY F. M. CABELL Dec, 17, 1929.

APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING STEAM TO INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES 1925 2Sheets-Sheet Original Filed May 2 INVENTOR 3 A ATTORNEY Patented Dec.17, 1929 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PHILIP MASON CABELL, OF NEW YORK,N.

APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING STEAM TO IN'TERNAL-COIVIBUSTION ENGINESSubstitute for application Serial No. 27,422, filed May 2, 1925. Thisapplication filed March 20, 1929. Serial No. 348,677.

This invention relates to apparatus for explosive mixture is suppliedthrough an supplyin steam to internal combustion enintake pipe 11 from acarbureter l2, and gines, and theinvention aims to provide imhwing anexhaust manifold 13, shown by proved apparatus for this purpose by whichdotted lines, from which the exhaust gases steam for mixing with thecarbureted air or pass through an exhaust pipe 14. At a suit- 55 otherexplosive gaseous mixture supplied to able point in the exhaust pipe 14:there is the engine cylinders may be supplied at a connected the casingof a boiler 15 from desired constant pressure and at a desired whichsteam passes through a pipe 16 to rate, and which apparatus shall beautomatic be supplied to the engine cylinders. The

10 in operation, supplying steam when the ensteam supply pipe 16 isshown as connected 6 0 gine is in operation, and the generation and tosupply steam to the intake pipe 11 adjasupply of steam beingautomatically stopped cent the intake manifold 10.

when the engine is not in operation. An The boiler or steam generator isof the advantage of my apparatus is that the steam, flash boiler typeformed by means providsupplied at any desired pressure, which may ing anextended heating surface mounted 65.

be a very low pressure, may be superheated within a boiler easing sothat the extended and supplied to the engine at a high temheatingsurface will be maintained at a temperature, perature materially abovethe boiling point The invention has been made especially of water by thecombustion gases passing 20 with the idea of providing apparatus for supthrough the casing. As shown, and most de- '10 plying steam to theengines of motor vesirably, the boiler is formed by a suitably hicles,but the invention is, 0 course, adapt Coiled pipe 20 arranged to providea relativeable to internal combustion engines used for ly longdownwardly inclined passage or conth PHI-poses, duit within a suitablecasing 21 connected A full understanding of the invention can in theexhaust pipe 14 so that the exhaust 75 best be given by a detaileddescription of gases will pass through the heating cham- M an approvedform of apparatus embodying ber 22 within the casing in contact with thethe same, and such a description will now boiler pipe 20. The casing maybe hung be given in connection with the accompanyfrom a member 23 of thechassis frame of ing drawings showing such an approved the car and isdesirably provided with a so form of apparatus. In said drawings heatinsulating covering 24. The steam pipe Fig. 1 is a view showing somewhatdiagram- Y 16 is also desirably provided with an insulatmatically theinternal combustion engine and ing covering ater is supplied to theboiler other parts of a motor vehicle equipped with from a tank 25through a pipe 26 connected apparatus for supplying steam to the engineto the upper end of the boiler tube 20, and 85 in accordance with theinvention; steam passes from the lower end of the boiler Q i a i i lation on a larger tube through a pipe 27 to an equalizing scale of theboiler or steam generator and chamber 28 and thence to the enginethrough water supply parts of the apparatus, the the pipe 16. The wateris caused to flow boiler casing being shown in section on line from thetank 25 to the boiler coil by he 9 2-2 of Fig. 3; ing maintained underpressure in the tank Fi 3 i 21 p i f th art h wn by air forced into thetank through a pipe in Fig. 2, with the boiler casing sectioned 30, asby means of an air pump 31 shown on line 33 of Fig. 2; and in Fig. 1.The pressure under which the 4 is a central sectional view on a stillater is supplied to the boiler coil deter- 9.5

larger scale of the thermostatically controlled mines the pre ure underwhich steam is water supply valve. supplied from the boiler. As theamount Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows of water required formaintaining the desired an internal combustion engine A having a rate ofsupply of steam to the engine is relmixture or intake manifold 10 towhich the atively small, a Water tank of a size which may beconveniently mounted on the car will hold suflicient water for operationover a relatively long period, and the maintaining of a substantiallyconstant air pressure in the tank will require only infrequent operationof the air pump. The water supply pipe is provided with means wherebythe flow of water therethrough to the boiler may be prevented by anopposing steam pressure. For this purpose in the construction shown thepipe includes an up-flow portion 35.

The equalizing chamber 28 is most desirably located within the boilercasing 21, so that the steam will be kept subject to the heat of theexhaust gases until it leaves the equalizing chamber. For convenience,the equalizing chamber is l ormed by a plurality of cylindrical tanks 36which may he formed of short lengths of suitable sized tubing. Ashut-ott valve 37 is provided in the water supply pipe 26, and a valve38 is provided in the steam supply pipe 16 for regulating the rate ofsupply of steam to the engine.

The operation of the apparatus as so far described is as follows :-lVhenthe engine is in operation the boiler pipe 20 is maintained by the hotgases passing through the chamber 22 at a temperature materially abovethe boiling point of water. The 'water under the pressure maintained inthe tank 25 tends to flow through the pipe 26 into the upper end of theboiler pipe. lVhenever the steam pressure is below the water supplypressure, water will enter the boiler and be immediately converted intosteam which will flow to the chamber 28 and thence through the pipe 16to the intake manifold of the engine at a rate dependent on theadjustment of the steam valve 38. lVhen the steam pressure is equal to,or if it should become greater than. the water supply pressure, thesteam acting on the water in the up-tlow portion 35 of the Water supplypipe prevents water from entering the boiler. When the steam pressureagain falls below the water supply pressure, water will again enter theboiler and be immediately converted into steam and restore the steampressure. The pressure in the boiler will thus be maintainedapproximately crinstant, and this is so regardless of the rate, withinthe capacity of the boiler, at which the steam is allowed to pass to theengine. The rate of supply of steam to the engine at a desiredpredetermined pressure may thus be varied as desired by adjusting thesteam valve 38 and for any given setting ot the valve 38, the rate ofsupply of steam may be varied by varying the steam pressure. Thepressure at which the steam is supplied may be varied as desired byvarying the pressure maintained in the water tank 25, that is. thepressure under which the water is supplied to the boiler. The pump 31and a relief valve 39 serve as means for controlling the water supplypressure, and a pressure gage a0 is provided for indicating thepressure. The rate at which steam is supplied to the engine is bestetermined by adjustment and trial. To aid in such adjustment, athree-way valve 41 is provided in the steam pipe 16 between the valve 38and the engine by which the steam may be discharged into the atmospherefor observation.

In order that the steam shall be superheated and supplied to the engineat a high temperature, the boiler pipe desirably made of such lengththat steam generated in the upper part of the pipe'will in passing onthrough, the pipe be heated to approximately the temperature or theexhaust gases. The equalizing tank being located within the boilercasing and the supply pipe 16 being suitably insulated, the steam willbe delivered to the intake manifold with but little drop in temperature.The first or upper portion of the boiler pipe should best have aconsiderable inclination as shown. The inclination ol the portion inwhich the steam is superheated is not of importance.

It would, of course, be undesirable to permit water to enter the boilerwhen the boiler is not heated to the proper ten'iperature "forconverting the water into steam, or that there should be any possibilityof water flowing through the steam pipe to enter the intake n'iani't'oldot' the engine or the intake pipe 11 and so reach the carlmreter.Instead of depending on the shutting oltof the valve 37 for preventingsuch flow of water when the engine not in operation or before the boilerhas become properly heated, I provide means for automaticallycontrolling the flow oi water through the pipe 26. Such means as shown,and most desirable, consists ot a thermostatically controlled valveconnected in the pipe 26 and having its thermostatic element mounted tobe influenced to open the valve by heat from the exhaust gases.

The device shown comprises a valve casing 50 having inlet and outletports 51 and 52, respectively, to which parts of the pipe 26 areconnected and having the chamber within the casing divided between saidports by a partition which is ported and formed to serve as a valve seatfor a valve which when seated prevents the flow of water from the inletport to the outlet port. The valve is pressed toward its seat andnormally held closed by a spring 54:. The end of the valve casing towardwhich the valve closes has adjust-ably secured thereto a part 55 whichserves a seattor a thern'iostatie element 56. The part 55 and the end ofthe valve casing are formed with telescoping flanges so 'as to provide acasing tor the thermostatic element, and the part 55 is secured to thevalve casing by a threaded connecting sleeve 57 internally threaded withright and left hand threads which extend inward from its two endsrespectively, and which threads take on to exthe end of the valvecasing, and by turning the sleeve in the other direction the part may bemoved ofi' away from the end of the valve casing.

The thermostatically controlled valve device is desirably mounted on theexhaust pipe 14: as shown with the wall of the part 55 which forms theseat for the thermostatic element resting against the pipe. This wall isshaped to fit against the pipe and is formed with a central opening 58through which heat from the pipe wall has direct access to the end ofthe thermostatic element. The thermostatic element, which may be of anyusual or suitable form, and which as shown is of a wellknown formconsisting of an expansible container having a corrugated cylindricalwall and containing a fluid which will expand when heated, is seated onthe part 55 over the opening 58 and has connected to its opposite end arod 60 which extends through an opening in the end of the valve 'asingprovided with a suitable stufling box. lVhen the thermostatic elementexpands the rod 60 acts to push the valve 53 away from its seat againstthe pressure of the spring 54L, and when the thermostatic elementcontracts, the spring again closes the valve. As shown, the rod 60presses against the end of a rod 61 extending from the valve.

When the exhaust pipe is cold the thermostatic element will becontracted and the valve 53will be closed. lVhen the engine is inoperation. the exhaust pipe becomes heated and heat is transmitted tothe thermostatic element, causing the same to expand, and whensutficiently expanded, to open the valve 53 to ermit water to flow tothe boiler. Adjustment of the sleeve 57 and thereby of the position ofthe thermostatic element with relation to the valve, will determine thedegree to which the thermostatic element must be heated in order to openthe valve and hold he va ve open. The adjustment should be such thatafter the engine has been started the valve 53 will notbe opened untilthe boiler has been heated to a sufficient degree to cause the enteringwater immediately to be converted into steam, and that when the en- 7gine is stopped, the valve will be closed before the boiler has cooledbelow such flash temperature.

By this automatically controlled valve the flow of water to the boileris prevented except when the boiler is heated to a suflicienttemperature for immediately converting entering water into steam, andthe operator is relieved from all care in this respect. ing the boilerit is desirable that water should be admitted slowly until a steampressure corresponding to the water supply pressure In starthas oncebeen established. The automatic shut-ofl valve, because of therelatively slow and gradual action of the thermostatic element, operatesto give this desired restricted slow flow of water in starting up theboiler.

In addition to the improvement in operation of the engine and theeconomy of operation resulting from supplying steam, and especiallysuperheated steam, to the engine cylinders, and the advantages of theautomatic control features as hereinbefore pointed out, my apparatus hasthe further important advantage that, because of the way in which thesteam pressure is automatically maintained constant, the explosionhazard is eliminated. In this connection, it may be pointed out that,before any considerable excess pressure could be created in the boiler,water in the supply pipe 26 would be forced back by the pressure of thesteam and the steam coming in contact with water in the pipe 26 or inthe tank 25 would be condensed, thus preventing any substantial increasein pressure even under conditions which might otherwise result in a verygreat increase in pressure.

This application is a continuation of and substitute for my applicationSerial No. 27,422, filed Way 2, 1925.

IVhat is claimed is:

1. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a flash boilerheated by waste heat from the engine, means for supplying water to theboiler under pressure, means for preventing the flow of water to theboiler when the steam pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure andthereby maintaining a constant steam pressure, a connection for sup--plying steam for the boiler to the engine cylinder, and adjustable meansfor controlling the rate of delivery of steam to the engine cylinder.

2. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a flash boilerheated by waste heat from the engine, means for supplying water to theboiler under pressure, means for preventing the flow of water to theboiler when the steam pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure andthereby maintaining a constant steam pressure, a connection forsupplying steam from the boiler to the engine ,cylinder, and anadjustable restriction in the steam supply passage between the boilerand the engine cylinder for controlling the rate of delivery of steam tothe engine cylinder.

3. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a flash boilerheated by waste heat from the engine, means for supplying water to theboiler under pressure, means for preventing the flow of water to theboiler when the steam pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure andthereby maintaining a constant steam pressure, a connection forsupplying steam from the boiler to the engine cylinder, means forcontrolling the rate of delivery of steam to the engine cylinder, andmeansfor varying the water supply pressure to vary the pressure at whichthe steam is maintained.

at. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a flash boiler,means tor supplying water to the boiler under pressure, means forpreventing the flow of water to the boiler when the steam pressureeXceeds a pre determined pressure and thereby maintaining a constantsteam pressure, a connection for supplying steam "from the boiler to theengine cylinder, adjustable means for controlling the rate of deliveryot steam to the engine cylinder, and heat-responsive means subject tothe heat'ot a part of the engine system for preventing flow of water tothe boiler when the ten'iperature of said part is below a predeterminedtemperature.

5. In combination with an internal com bustion engine, a flash boilerheated by waste heat from the engine, means for supplying water to theboiler at a predetermined pressure, means for preventing flow of waterto the boiler when the steam pressure exceeds the water supply pressureand thereby maintaining the steam pressure equal to the water supplypressure, a connection for supplyingsteam from the boiler to the enginecylinder, means for controlling the rate of delivery of: steam to theengine cylinder, and means for automatically preventing flow of water tothe boiler when the engine is not in operation.

6. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a flash boilerheated by waste heat from the engine, means for supplying water to theboiler at a predetermined pressure, means for preventing flow of waterto the boiler when the steam pressure exceeds the water supply pressureand thereby maintaining the steam pressure equal to the water supplypressure, a connection for supplying steam from the boiler to the enginecylinder, means for controlling the rate of delivery of steam to theengine cylinder, and heat responsive means operative to prevent flow ofwater to the boiler when the boiler is not heated to a suitableoperating temperature.

7. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a flash boilerheated by waste heat from the engine, means for supplying water to theboiler at a predetermined pressure, means For preventing flow of waterto the boiler when the steam pressure exceeds the water supply pressureand thereby maintaining the steam pressure equal to the water supplypressure. a connection for supplying steam from the boiler to the enginecylinder, means for controlling the rate of delivery of steam to theengine cylinder, and heat-responsive means subject to heat from theexhaust gases and operative to prevent flow 0t ater to the boiler whenthe amount of heat passing off in the exhaust gases is below a certainminimum.

8. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a flash boilerheated by waste heat from the engine, means for supplying water to theboiler at apredetermined pressure, means for preventing flow of Water tothe boiler when the steam pressure exceeds the water supply pressure andthereby maintaining the steam pressure equal to the water supplypressure, a connection for supplying steam from the boiler to the enginecylinder having a restriction for controlling the rate of delivery ofsteam to the engine cylinder, means for automatically preventing flow ofwater to the boiler when the engine is not in operation, and means forvarying the water supply pressure.

9. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a flash boilerheated by waste heat from the engine, means for supplying water to theboiler under pressure, means for preventing the flow of water to theboiler when the steam pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure andthereby maintaining a constant steam pressure, a connection torsupplying steam from the boiler to the engine cylinder, a valve in thesteam supply connection for controlling the rate of delivery of steam tothe engine cylinder, and a two-way valve bet *een said valve and theengine cylinder operable to divert the steam for observati on of therate of delivery of the steam.

10. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a flash boilerheated by waste heat from the engine, a source of supply of water underpressure, a conduit connecting said source of supply and the boilerformed to prevent flow of steam and water therethrough in oppositedirections, a connection tor supplying steam from the boiler to theengine cylinder having a restriction for controlling the rate ofdelivery of steam to the engine cylinder, a valve in said water supplyconduit, means for opening and closing said valve including athermostat, and means adjustable for varying the degree of temperatureat which the valve is opened and closed.

11. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a flash boilerformed by a tortuous and continuously downwardly inclined pipe mountedwithin a chamber forming part of the exhaust conduit of the engine,aclosed water tank, means for forcing air into said tank to maintain adesired pressure pressure therein, a pipe leading from said tank to theintake manifold of the engine and including an up-floW portion and adownfiow portion beyond the up-flow portion, the down-flow portion beinglocated to be heated to a temperature materially above the boiling pointof Water by exhaust gas from the engine, a valve in said pipe beyondsaid down-flow portion for controlling the rate of flow of the steam tothe engine, a valve in said pipe between said tank and said downfiovvportion of the pipe, and means for opening and closing said valveincluding a thermostatic element mounted to receive heat from theexhaust gas.

18. In combination With an internal conibustion engine, a flash boilerheated by Waste heat from the engine, a source of supply of Water underpressure, a Water supply conneetion from said source of supply to theboiler having an up-fioW portion, a steam supply connection forsupplying steam from the boiler to the engine cylinder, a valve in saidWater supply connection, and automatic means for opening said valvegradually after the engine has been started and the boiler has beenheated.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

PHILIP MASON CABELL.

